US5240801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image-forming member for electrophotography and manufacturing method for the same
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-12-16
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Granted: 1993-08-31
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Expires: 2012-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An image-forming member for electrophotography and a manufacturing method for the same and an electrostatic photocopying machine are disclosed. The image-forming member comprises an organic photoconductive layer formed on a conductive substrate and a protective layer formed on the organic photoconductive layer. Hollows such as pinholes and cracks in the organic photoconductive layer are filled with insulating material, so that the organic photoconductive layer surface becomes even and thereby the protective layer such as a carbonaceous film having high hardness is formed on the organic photoconductive layer with a surface of the protective layer even such that foreign matters can not gather thereon. Alternatively, hollows such as pinholes and cracks in a protective layer are filled with insulating material. Thereby the protective layer surface is made even. Because of evenness and hardness of the protective layer, the image-forming member is immune to wear or scratches, and consequently clear images having no image flow, blur of images, white strips, and voids are obtained on copying sheets with an electrostatic photocopying machine utilizing the image-forming member.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigenori Hayashi
- 👤 Shunpei Yamazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/14; G03G5/147; G03G5/14704; G03G5/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
An image-forming member for electrophotography comprising: an organic photoconductive layer formed on a conductive substrate; and a protective layer formed on said organic photoconductive layer, wherein pinholes and cracks in said protective layer are filled with an organic photoconductive material so that an even surface is formed over said pinholes and cracks, said even surface being flush with a surface of said protective layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image-forming member for electrophotography comprising: an organic photoconductive layer formed on a conductive substrate; and a protective layer formed on said organic photoconductive layer, wherein pinholes and cracks in said protective layer are filled with an organic photoconductive material so that an even surface is formed over said pinholes and cracks, said even surface being flush with a surface of said protective layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein a resistivity of said material is from 10 8 to 10 12 Ωcm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said organic photoconductive layer functions to generate electric charges therein by virtue of light and to transport the generated electric charges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said organic photoconductive layer comprises a charge carrier generation layer and a charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conductive substrate has a cylindrical or plate shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conductive substrate is a conductor or an insulator having a conducting surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein a Vickers hardness of said protective layer is from 100 to 3000 kg/mm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protective layer is selected from the group consisting of diamond like carbon layer, silicon nitride layer, silicon oxide layer, and silicon carbide layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is a positive photoresist.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image-forming member for electrophotography as claimed in claim 4 wherein said material is a material of said charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for manufacturing an image-forming member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: forming an organic photoconductive layer on a conductive substrate; forming a protective layer on said organic photoconductive layer; and filling pinholes in said protective layer with an organic photoconductive material to form an even surface over said pinholes, said even surface being flush with a surface of said protective layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for manufacturing an image-forming member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: forming an organic photoconductive layer on a conductive substrate; forming a protective layer on said organic photoconductive layer; and filling pinholes in said protective layer with an organic photoconductive material to form an even surface over said pinholes, said even surface being flush with a surface of said protective layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein a layer is formed on said protective layer by said filling step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of planarizing a surface of the layer formed on said protective layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said planarizing step is carried out by removing an upper portion of the layer formed on said protective layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said planarizing step is carried out by removing an upper portion of the layer formed on said protective layer so that the planarized surface is flush with the surface of said protective layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said filling step is carried out by rolling on said protective layer a roller coated with said material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said protective layer is coated with said material by said filling step and said material is removed by a squeegee in order to fill said hollows with said material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said organic photoconductive layer comprises a charge carrier generation layer and a charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said charge carrier transport layer is made of said material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said material has a resistivity of 10 8 to 10 12 Ωcm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said protective layer has a vickers hardness of 100 to 3000 kg/mm 2 .
Claim 24
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for manufacturing an image-forming member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: forming a photoconductor comprising a conductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer provided on said substrate, and a protective layer provided on said organic photoconductive layer; fabricating a device for electrophotography from said photoconductor; subjecting said photoconductor to electrophotography processing repeatedly; detaching said photoconductor from said device; and filling hollows in said protective layer with a material.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for manufacturing an image-forming member for electrophotography comprising the steps of: forming a photoconductor comprising a conductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer provided on said substrate, and a protective layer provided on said organic photoconductive layer; fabricating a device for electrophotography from said photoconductor; subjecting said photoconductor to electrophotography processing repeatedly; detaching said photoconductor from said device; and filling hollows in said protective layer with a material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein a layer is formed on said protective layer by said filling step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of planarizing a surface of the layer formed on said protective layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said planarizing step is carried out by removing an upper portion of the layer formed on said protective layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said planarizing step is carried out by removing an upper portion of the layer formed on said protective layer so that the planarized surface is flush with the surface of said protective layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said filling step is carried out by rolling on said protective layer a roller coated with said material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said protective layer is coated with said material by said filling step and said material is removed by a squeegee in order to fill said hollows with said material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said organic photoconductive layer comprises a charge carrier generation layer and a charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said charge carrier transport layer is made of said material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said material has a resistivity of 10 8 to 10 12 Ωcm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said protective layer has a Vickers hardness of 100 to 3000 kg/mm 2 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |